More Greatness

Well kids, teachings from the Pulpit will be for another day this week, as I left the notes in my car, and it's FAR too cold to make my way out to get them. :-) However, I have had quite a few different ideas and thoughts coming into my mind lately... so let's dive in, shall we?

First off, I was asked to give a Biblical Interpretation in Class the other day on the following scripture from Luke 17: "7"Suppose one of you had a servant plowing or looking after the sheep. Would he say to the servant when he comes in from the field, 'Come along now and sit down to eat'? 8Would he not rather say, 'Prepare my supper, get yourself ready and wait on me while I eat and drink; after that you may eat and drink'? 9Would he thank the servant because he did what he was told to do? 10So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, 'We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.' "

So I sent this out to my friend Brandy, and she then sent it to her significant other, and his answer to this question of - what does this mean - follows here... it's Terrific stuff!!! :-)


"In my view, this issue is a matter of respect. Even Jesus did not consider equality with God something to be grasped. He modeled submission and humility, always praying to the Father before performing miracles, ministry etc."
As an employer, I'm not obligated to thank my employees every time they do something for me. They are performing a role according to the worker-employer relationship we've negotiated. God is also not obligated to thank us for every good deed we perform. We are the ones always indebted to Him! This position of dependancy will never change. We cannot add to Him; He can only add to us. I am always in the position of slave to my Master in Heaven - and will be judged accordingly."

So the questions arise - what does respect mean? Well, according to dictionary.com it means "to hold in esteem or honor - or to regard or have consideration for someone". Today, our world is many times lacking in the respect area of life. How many times do we disrespect our parents or those that are in authority over us? How is it that we can have such esteem and appreciation for the authority placed over us at work, but in our own personal lives we lack the esteem and respect for those closest to us? Are you respecting your families, friends, significant others - the way you should? Do you hold them in high esteem and have great respect for them? If not, why not? What is holding you back from loving the people that mean the most to you? For me, it's my own selfishness. How about you? Definitely something to think about...

Now my next point, lately I've begun to have a greater understanding for why I go through the things and the trials in my life that I go through. I've realized that God is using my struggles and my pain to help others - whether they are going through something similar, or if they are going through something drastically different - I know I am being used by God to Bridge the Gap for people in despair. When those people are so lost that they don't even know what to do with themselves or how to let themselves mourn, I know that my job is to Bridge the Gap for them and be in prayer constantly for their own healing to come from God. He has a plan and a direction for each and every thing that happens in our lives - and for me, right now, I'm called to love those that feel unloved. I'm called to pray for those who cannot pray for themselves. I'm called to help those that feel helpless. I'm called to be the joy in someone's life who is struggling with despair. And if that is the only thing I do during this time of growth and healing for myself, at least at the end of it all I'll be able to see how many lives I was able to help and touch through my most difficult times. Are you helping others right now? If not, what can you do to help those around you? And what is holding you back from helping your fellow man get their lives filled with happiness and joy?

"Streams in the Desert" last night talked about a man who carried a tin of oil around with him wherever he went. He oiled squeeky doors, and rusted gates so they could again do the job they were called to do. Then the writer applied that to our daily lives - "Your oil of cheerfulness will mean more than you know to someone who is downhearted. Or the oil may be a word of encouragement to a person who is full of despair. Never fail to speak it, for our lives may touch others only once on the road of life." So what kind of word or action can you say or do today to help uplift someone else? How are you going to help someone else today?

My dear friends, if there is anything I can be doing or praying for you with - please let me know. You are all in my prayers and thoughts constantly, and don't forget that God has not given up on you, and I won't either - together we can get through anything. God has always promised not to give us more than we can handle. And He will provide us a way out - and sometimes that way out is through the help and encouragement of others.